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Blueface crosses the pond
A big HOWDY to all my American friends (so that's the cliche's done, don't need any more of those). YEEHAA! (blast)
I'm lucky enough to be heading to your lovely country for a road trip later this year. Hoping a couple of months there. I have seen some of California but nowhere else. We aim to end up in that little town on the east -New York (came after old York i believe, my town).
Any recommendations of the beaten track? We are open to all ideas at the moment. Would be nice to catch a couple of temples too
I'm lucky enough to be heading to your lovely country for a road trip later this year. Hoping a couple of months there. I have seen some of California but nowhere else. We aim to end up in that little town on the east -New York (came after old York i believe, my town).
Any recommendations of the beaten track? We are open to all ideas at the moment. Would be nice to catch a couple of temples too
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Ithaca Zen Center
56 Lieb Road
Spencer, NY 14883
(607) 272-0694
Bodymindr@aol.com
lineage of the famous Zen Master, Joshu Sasaki Roshi.
Enjoy your trip, blueface
Abu
blueface, we've alerted all the customs and immigration officials to your arrival!
The Mountain and Rivers place in NY might be worth your while. Good peeps. Also if you're in Northern California at all, do go to Shasta Abbey, which, curiously enough, is right next to Mt. Shasta. My first experience with monastic Buddhism was there (way back in the Dark Ages of the 1970s), and they hold a special place in my heart. Right off I-5 as well.
Palzang
I think we will probably start in Cali and take in Boston and NY the other side. Other than that i'd quite like to see a mixture, some real america not tourist stuff. We will probably stick in smaller cities/towns as we pass across...corky would be nice.
Hey no fair - I just gave up booze last year cos i'm advised to by TNH!
Is that a retreat or monastry?
I like the idae of a monastry next to a mountain! Not sure about what the rules are for visiting monatries as a layman...
Okay, I realize there are more micro breweries in the U.S. these days. But surely you know that American beer, the mass market stuff, is a...well....um....a joke around the world, right? I mean no disrespect to you. Just to American beer.
And now that I'm on a roll, the best beer in the world has always, and most likely will always, come from Britain. Even if Blueface was going to drink, I doubt there's an ale in America, in any of those micro breweries, that could come close to the quality of Blueface's local.
Sorry. I really am. I just had to say that. I know I'm being critical. But it had to be said.
ps actually the microbreweries in the US aren't too shabby - remeber thissame argument coming up back in 97 when i was living in San Diego.
pps its just me but the best beers in Britain i think are in th North- largelt because they use 'sparklers' that creat a good creamy foamy finish that stays ...bloody hell i'm relapsing.
I was there on retreat, so I guess it's a retreat. There are monks there (it is Joshu Sazaki Roshi's headquarters) so I guess it's also a monastery. More info.
Brigid I'm only talking about the craft brewing industry. I have done a fair amount of emmm research! US has revived a lot of styles that are dying out in their places of origin I have heard (though I don't have firsthand knowledge).
I'd say more as I am a homebrewer and quite knowledgeable, but I won't say too much as its a buddhist oriented forum. Much as I don't go off about buddhism in a homebrewing forum.
Okay, no more bad American beer jokes. I promise.
Oh, no problem. They have lots of laypeople visiting. Just let them know ahead of time if you're coming. You can get more info here.
Palzang
The worst was the video game forum with a speak your mind section. I had so many of my posts deleted by mods because I talked about buddhism to answer peoples questions.
Have you ever tried Unibroue brewery in Canada? They have terrific products. Sleeman's is decent but pretty run of the mill (less premium).
You're welcome to visit with us in Oregon. Let me know
Vidya Priory
C/O Brother Bob
2131 Center St. NE #9
Salem, OR. 97301
(503) 364-1209
brotherpilgrim@gmail.com
There's also Great Vow Monastery in Clatskanie Oregon, http://www.greatvow.org/
And, highly recommended, Sravasti Abbey in Newport Washington; http://www.sravastiabbey.org/ Beautiful!
Is Unibroue the one that makes Maudite? There was a microbrew beer I used to drink when I lived in Montreal but I forget what it was called. Something 'guelle'? Can't remember.
I never liked Seeman's. Do you? It always smelled skunky to me and I was suspicious of the clear bottles. I was always taught that beer had to be stored in coloured bottles to protect it from the light. I thought that was why Sleeman's smelled skunky.
I haven't actually had a beer in about 10 years but back in the day my favourite kind of beer was British bitter ale. I can't even remember what the brand was that I used to drink at our regular pub (it'll probably come to me later). I used to nurse a pint while sipping on a glass of Cardhu with one ice cube. I used to enjoy it immensely. I often think it's strange that I don't miss it.
No, no, Brigid, I think Jeffrey's quite right. Only thing is, you have to turn the world globe upside down, spin it around a bit, then Australia will be exactly where America is. That's where the best beer can be found!
Actually you are right for most beers, however, cold-filtered beers can be stored in clear bottles. This is a technique that the big boys employ so the beer is more likely to cater for the majority rather than the boutique market. I do have to admit, though, that it is a smoother beer that the usual mass-market stuff. In any case, I would never drink a beer called Seeman's!!! Is that for real or are you taking the piss???:D:D:D
You will be able to email MRO to ask about details. MRO seems well accomodated to receiving visitors and lay guests.
For Mt Baldy, it may be tricky to get there and if it is just a day trip, it may not be worth that while. It is the training centre for monks and nuns in Sasaki Roshi's lineage, but regularly hosts sesshins as well for which all are welcome.
If it is LA you are in, it may be easier to go to the Rinzai-Ji Zen centre, at which the teacher is also sometimes in attendance, but regardless, I suspect you could join a sit with them if so inclined. http://www.rinzai-ji.org/ Email or phone calls seem an OK way of correspondence.
Good Luck with it all, and have a fun and safe trip
thanks for that 5bells- looks worth a visit...
stunning Palzang...this is gonna end up some kind of pilgramage if i'm not careful...
Lovely offer Brother Bob. I'll try to make it there if poss and i'll contact you in advance to let you know. Thanks so much
mmmm? I am stretching my perceptions and letting the layers of concept and thought fall to the ground but...no there simply is no way Australian beer is any good.:rolleyes:
thankyou friend...i know i can't go wrong with this help!
I haven't looked through all of the comments so someone may have suggested this already but I would recommend going through the southwest (my neck of the woods). Moab, UT with Arches national park is a must see and if you take I-70 from California it travels right near there.
If you take I-80 from San Francisco you will go through my home city of Salt Lake. There are tons of cool things around this city to do as well, depending on what you are looking for I guess. A fun road trip would be to take route 66 and stay off the major Highways.
As opposed to... the warm muck you guys drink up there coz the weather is so cold???
Holy crap! I can go on and on, can't I?
Lol!! The last time I had an Australian beer was in 1989 in college in Wales. It was...you guessed it..a pint of Fosters. It was the only lager on tap they had and I hadn't developed my taste for the bitter yet. Not a great beer but I imagine things have improved since then. (I wish there was a smiley that had her arms up protecting her head from random objects being thrown at her by Australians.)
A had a beer recently by Avery called Karma. Was pretty average. Supposedly in the french farmhouse style but I wasn't too crazy about it.
Personally, I can't drink Fosters.:eekblue: It's pretty disgusting stuff! Lol. There are many boutique beers and some fairly common beers that are pretty good but you can't judge Aussie beers on that horrible muck. But hey, I'm not one to say that we have the best of the best of the best... lol but Aussie beers are pretty good. Lots of great European beers that I've tasted and I have to say that the warm beer the poms produce is pretty good straight out of the tap. Goes down a tad too quickly though... he.. he..
You read my mind... My favourite Aussie beer actually. I especially like the "scum" on the bottom of the bottle that settles due to the last part of the fermentation process occurring after it's bottled. Yum....